Coventry City are waiting on the fitness of Sam Ricketts as they prepare for the big League One opener at Swindon Town on Saturday.

The Sky Blues skipper has been nursing a knee injury that has meant he’s missed the last four pre-season matches – against Nuneaton Town, Norwich City, Newport County and Rugby Town – and the 34-year-old remains a doubt for the weekend.

But manager Tony Mowbray remains hopeful that if he gets through a training session he will be fit enough to travel with the squad to the County Ground to face the Robins.

“He still hadn’t trained earlier this week so we have to be hopeful and see how he is today and tomorrow,” he said.

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“If he can train on one of those days then it will probably be a gamble for us but one worth taking.

“But there’s potentially seven games in August ending with West Ham at the end of the month so let’s wait and see with Sam. I remain hopeful but until he pulls his boots on and says what he can and can’t do then we can’t say.”

The manager is desperately trying to draft in defensive cover to avoid throwing youngster Darragh Leahy in at the deep end. The teenager has found himself promoted to the first team in the warm-up games due to injuries to the likes of Jack Finch and at a time when recruitment has been slower than Mowbray had wanted.

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“With total respect the young lads, young Darragh has done really well in the pre-season and looked good with the ball at his feet but sometimes too much exposure can do more harm than good,” said the City boss, “but we’ll see what the next few days bring.

“We are working on stuff and if we can get someone in then it might mean we look to Tuesday for Sam.”

Sky Blues Marcus Tudgay and Sam Ricketts at Nuneaton

As for right-sided centre-back Jordan Willis, who limped off with a knee issue against Nuneaton last Friday, Mowbray revealed: “Jordan trained on Tuesday so he’s all right, just something he has to keep an eye on after his knee op but it settles down pretty quickly.”

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Elsewhere, goalkeepers Lee Burge and Corey Addai were on course to return to training either today or tomorrow after sitting out with minor niggles.

“Corey is back in training and we’re hopeful that Lee will start back training today or tomorrow,” said the manager.

“Lee has a niggle in his knee and with Corey it was not an injury as such, more muscle tightness after going through the rigorous pre-season that he’s been through. We just took him out of the firing line for a few days.”